Today is
the anniversary
of the birthday, in 1630, of Sophia of Hanover, sometimes referred
to as Sophia of the Palatinate. Probably
you have never
heard of her. She is, however, the reason the current British
royal family is what it is.
In the late
18th century, the succession to the British throne was in controversy. The direct lines were childless. The most adjacent lines were Catholic, and the political decision
had been made that only a Protestant could
sit on the throne. Under "An Act for the Further Limitation
of the Crown and Better Securing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject ,” better known as the “Act of Settlement
of 1701,” the line of succession was placed upon a cadet line of descendents of
James I, they being a Protestant. The Act of Settlement declared
in part that:
Therefore for a further Provision of the
Succession of the Crown in the Protestant Line We Your Majesties most dutifull
and Loyall Subjects the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this
present Parliament assembled do beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted and
declared and be it enacted and declared by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by
and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and
Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same
That the most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of
Hannover Daughter of the most Excellent Princess Elizabeth late Queen of
Bohemia Daughter of our late Sovereign Lord King James the First of happy
Memory be and is hereby declared to be the next in Succession in the Protestant
Line to the Imperiall Crown and Dignity of the forsaid Realms of England France
and Ireland with the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging after His
Majesty and the Princess Anne of Denmark and in Default of Issue of the said
Princess Anne and of His Majesty respectively.(12
and 13 Will 3 C. 2).
Sophia would
die two months too soon to ever become the queen of England. Rather, the crown would be placed on the head of her son, George I, the first of the house of Hanover to sit on the English throne. It is from Sophia that the current British
royal family
and especially
Queen Elizabeth
II claim succession to
that throne.
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